Most fabrics can be washed at a warm temperature of 40° as this helps to remove dirt, natural body oils and takes care of germs. Silk bed sheets should be washed at a lower temperature of 30° with a mild, non-biological detergent, or a silk specialist washing detergent.
Use the hottest water setting on your washing machine that's safe for the material. Polyester blends are best washed using warm water, while cotton can tolerate hot water. Hotter water kills the most germs and takes care of dust mites that thrive in bedding. Wash at least once every other week.
A good temperature for washing towels and sheets is 40 degrees, but a 60 degree wash will be better at killing germs. Changing your sheets and towels once a week can help to keep them fresh and clean**. Use our laundry tips section for guidelines on different fabrics.
It is recommended that you wash your bedsheets in a hot wash, at least 60 degrees. The hotter that you wash your sheets, the more germs are removed meaning that your bedding will be properly clean and free of germs.
Water Temperature and Detergent - The best overall temperature to wash your sheets in is warm water. Hot water will fade colors and can be harsh on fine threads. Cold water may not clean your sheets as well as you would like. Choose your favorite detergent or a mild one that will help you care for your sheets properly.
Most people should wash their sheets once per week. If you don't sleep on your mattress every day, you may be able to stretch this to once every two weeks or so. Some people should wash their sheets even more often than once a week.
#1: It Does the Best Job at Cleaning
The bottom line is that hot water cleans the most effectively. It does a great job at removing dirt, oils, skin cells, odors and everything else that we don't want to be sharing our bed with each night.
When washing bedding you want to wash at 60 degrees on a long wash ie 2 hours plus to make sure that any sweat, dander, dust or other nasties are killed and then removed. Wash all bedding on a full cycle 60-degree wash. Colder temperatures may not kill all the bacteria or remove sweat as effectively.
There's a lot of debate around the best temperature to wash your bedding, but as a general rule of thumb, we'd always recommend adhering to the care labels and following the instructions. Most fabrics can be washed at a warm temperature of 40° as this helps to remove dirt, natural body oils and takes care of germs.
Warm washing (40 degrees)
While some washing machine temperature settings go as low as 20°C, most cold washes start at 30°C. A setting of 30°C is usually recommended for washing delicate clothes when combined with a delicate cycle, and not on quick wash.
A 30 degree wash uses less energy while treating clothes to a gentler cycle. Because modern detergents are designed to work well at low temperatures, setting the washing machine to 30ºC can save you money while protecting fabrics, such as wool and silk, from the stress of hot water.
What is the best temperature to wash bed sheets? The general recommended temperature is 40°C/100°F for washing bed sheets, but if you have overslept your bed wash day, then the hygiene care option or a 60°C/140°F wash will be better for killing bacteria.
Wash with hot water: Cotton sheets can be washed on the hottest water temperature setting available, usually that is washing it at 90 degrees. This helps kill the germs and bacteria that thrive in your bedding.
' Experts at Dr Beckmann advise regular washing of clothes at 60 degrees to help eliminate the spread of bacteria & viruses. As the UK continues to self-isolate due to COVID-19, the cleaning experts say household linen, towels and underwear should all be washed at a temperature of 60°C to reduce the spread of germs.
30°C washes softer fabrics better than 40°C, which is why 40° is better for your everyday clothing, and fabrics that are harder e.g. wool. This is the temperature that most consumer testing boards use to measure the performance of the machine. materials at 40°C and the results will be just as good.
Overall, we've found that washing on a lower temperature does conserve energy and will save you money, but if you have fabrics which need a little extra stain-removal power then you might see a better result washing at 40 degrees.
“Washing once a week is best,” says lifestyle expert Cheryl Nelson. “But definitely wash sheets AT LEAST once every two weeks. That's the maximum amount of time you should go.
Washing clothes at 30 degrees rather than higher temperatures will save around 40% of the energy used each year. Modern washing powders and detergents work just as effectively at lower temperatures. Wait until you have a full load before putting on a wash.
Not only are modern washers designed for cold water, but many detergents have enzymes that can start to work in temperatures as low as 60℉, and cold-water detergent also enhances results. Cold water is fine for most clothes and other items that you can safely put in the washing machine.
Wash the sheets on a gentle cycle using cool or lukewarm water. Washing sheets in hot water is usually unnecessary unless you need to sanitize the sheets due to allergies or after an illness. Remove the sheets as soon as the cycle is over to reduce wrinkles.
The Good Housekeeping Institute says that your sheets should be changed at least once every two weeks. However, if you suffer with night sweats or allergies such as asthma, it's worth washing them weekly to get rid of any grime or potential irritants and keep your sleeping space fresh and clean.
How often to wash towels. The best way to prevent germs from growing on your bath towel is to let it dry completely between each use, and wash it frequently. The Cleaning Institute recommends washing bath towels after three uses. If you shower every day, that means laundry almost twice a week.
Not washing your sheets regularly exposes you to the fungi, bacteria, pollen, and animal dander that are commonly found on sheets and other bedding. Other things found on sheets include bodily secretions, sweat, and skin cells.
Sheets are usually changed between guests, and sometimes state law requires it, but there's no guarantee that they will be. As for bedspreads, forget it. As countless hidden-camera investigative TV programs have confirmed, they aren't washed regularly.